Books for the Girls: Kimiko Does Cancer
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash
Those who know me know I love books and I enjoy telling people about my favorites. I plan to occasionally share about books that are relevant for the Girls.
Kimiko Does Cancer
written by Kimiko Tobimatsu
illustrated by Keet Geniza
2020
This is the second graphic memoir I have shared in my Books for the Girls segments. Despite the format, once again, this not a book for kids.
I enjoy how words and pictures can be combined to enhance a story, and this first book by writer Kimiko Tobimatsu and illustrator Keet Geniza, has skillfully accomplished that. The author’s honest reflections and artist’s mastery of facial expressions pull you in to a story of a world turned upside down.
Kimiko was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 25. Just writing that sentence gives me pause. According to the National Cancer Institute, the median age for a breast cancer diagnosis is 62 years. We go into this book knowing that our protagonist’s experience is not going to be typical, but cancer doesn’t care. It also doesn’t care who your ancestors were, where you live, or who you love.
Here is a story of a young person’s struggle to not only negotiate the challenges she holds in common with her peers, but also challenges commonly faced by people more than twice her age. Relationships with family, colleagues, and lovers are explored, and not always with happily-ever-after endings. The stark honesty in this book challenges us to remember that the lasting effects of cancer are more than just physical scars.
At about one hundred pages, the book a quick read, but I don’t recommend racing through it. This story made me stop and reflect about many things, and I hope it will do the same for you.
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Look for this book at your local library or independent bookstore.
Blog For the Girls does not receive a commission or payment for reviewing this book.
If you have an encouraging book you want to tell us about, mention it in the comments below.